With summer temperatures on the horizon, sartorially minded book lovers will probably be retreating to the great outdoors to enjoy their latest read. Whether you want to dive into clothing history or discover personal style, we’ve compiled a roundup of new and intriguing titles which capture the universe of fashion. As you sun yourself on the back porch or embrace tranquility at the cottage, try picking up one of the following fashionable reads this season.

20th-Century Fashion: 100 Years of Apparel Ads by Alison A. Nieder and Jim Heimann, Taschen: From the fascinating era of Dior’s New Look in the 1940s and 1950s to low rise denim by Frankie B., fashion has taken quite a journey over the years. This new book (which just hit the shelves on May 24) examines the past 100 years of trends, and focuses on fashion advertisements. Along with labels, the title claims to also examine the world of celebrity style, cinema and magazines.

Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology by Andrew Bolton and Nicholas Alan Cope, Metropolitan Museum of Art: As an accompanying volume to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Manus x Machina exhibition, this book is meant to explore the link between fashion and technology. It takes a closer peek at recent innovations like 3D printing and laser cutting, but also travels back in time to look at industrial manufacturing. The book also offers interviews with famous fashion names such as designers Karl Lagerfeld and Miuccia Prada.

Advanced Style: Older & Wiser by Ari Seth Cohen and Simon Doonan, powerHouse Books: Anyone who still thinks that fashion is a young woman’s game will be surprised to discover this latest sartorial tome by photographer Ari Seth Cohen. The sequel to the first Advanced Style book showcases mature fashionistas posing in all their glory, with extravagant costumes and colourful accessories. The book is said to take readers to a variety of global destinations, from New York City to Tokyo.

Missoni Art Colour by Luciano Caramel, Luca Missoni and Emma Zanella, Skira Rizzoli: Released in time for the Missoni Art Colour exhibition at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum, this title came out on May 3. Missoni Art Colour investigates the combination of bold art and fashion, which is a trademark look of the Italian fashion house. From artists (like Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky) who have influenced the label’s creations to a look at signature colours, this book brings readers into the vivid world of Missoni.

Photos: Amazon